PS 1534 —————— ———-^^ 

D54 C6 

■" 1 DOL AND SOCIAL DRAMA. 



Copy 



'-A-ct Txrell 3roi:Lr part." 



COUNTRY JUSTICE. 



rp 


P- 


5ENI30^i 


lax 


CJE 


15 GEiTT 




1 

CH ICAGO : 


T. 


s. 


DENISON. 

1S7S. 



NO PLAYS EXCHANGED. 



T. S. DENISON'S CATALOGUE OF 

NEW PLAYS, 

FOR SCHOOLS and AMATEURS. 
1878. 

-^-JRTCJE, 15 CEHSTTS E^CH. 



These phivs hiive been preparetl expressly to meet the wants of teachers 
:uul amateur chibs. They are simple in construction, and require no scenery, 
or such as is usually at hand. They afford room for " aciiuff." They are pure 
ill tone and latiguage. The six first on the list were before the public last 
vear, and met with a very favorable reception. 

"If the succeeding- numbers are as g-ood as the first, we predict for them 
a large demand." — National Teachers' Monthly, N. T. and Chicago. 

"These plays appear to be full of fun and to teach manyg-ood lessons with- 
al." — Wis. yoi/r. of Education. 

"The farces are full of fun." — Daily Inter-Ocean, Chicago. 

"These plays are realizing- the dearth of good literature in this department." 
— A', y . .School Bulletin. 

ODDS WITH THE ENEMY. 

A drama in five acts; 7 male and 4 female characters. Time i hour 50 min. 
Contains a good humorous negro character. 

"It took splendidly. Tabbs' made it spicv." — C. E. Rogers, Dunkirk, Did. 

SETH GREENBACK. 

-V drama in four acts; 7 male and 3 female characters. Tine i hour 15 m. 

" 'Seth Greenback ' has one very good Irish comic character, and some 
pathetic and telling situations. The plot is simple and dramatic, and culmin- 
ates well." — loT.<a Normal ^lonthlv. 

WANTED, A CORRESPONDENT. 

A farce in two acts, 4 male and 4 female characters. Time 45 m. Very 
interesting and amusing. 

INITIATING A GRANGER. 

-V ludicrous farce; S male characters. Time, 25 m. 

" 'Initiating a Granger' brought down the house." — y. L. Sharp, Burlington 
loTja. 

THE SPARKLING CUP. 

A temperance drama in five acts; 12 male and 4 female characters. Time, 
I hour 45 m. A thrilling play, worthy the best efforts of amateurs. Pathetic song 
and death scene. 

"It is just the thing for dramatic clubs." — The Anvil, Washington, D. C. 



COUNTRY JUSTICE. 



BY 

/ 
T. S. DENISON, 



Author of Odds -with the Enetny ; The Sfarklina- Cup; Seth Greenback; 
Louva^ the Pmtper ; Wanted, A Correspondent; Initiating a Grander ; 
A Fatnily Strike ; Hans Von Smash; Tzjo Ghosts in White; 
The Pull Back ; The Assessor ; Country Justice ; 
Borrowing Trouble; etc. 




CHICAGO: %1 

1878. 

Copjrigbi, 1476, b,v 1 . «. Uenieou. 



't^^ 



CHARACTERS. 



Justice of the Peace. 
Spludge, Plaintiff. 
Fudge, Defendant. 
Attorney i-'or Plaintiff. 
Attorney for Defendant. 
Bulge. ] 

Jenks, }- Witnesses. 
Smith, j 

Jury. 



COSTUMES. 



The "Jury" should have a rustic and somewhat dilapidated ap- 
pearance. Spludge, plain suit; Fudge, very rustic, seedy and batter- 
ed ; Justice, plain and rustic ; Lawyers, plain suits. 



Note. — When there are not a snfficient number of characters to fur- 
nish a jury, by a very slight change in the wording of the peice, the 
jury may be omitted and the decision rendered by the Justice. 



COUNTRY JUSTICE.* 



^ScKNE. — Room ill a farm house; table tvitk ink, •writing' paper, la-w 
books, etc.; chairs and spittoon ; Justice of the Peace seated behind 
the table; Plaintiff and his Attorney right of Justice; Dejendant 
and his Attorney left of Justice; Jury of six left of Dejenda^it; three 
■witnesses right of Plaintiff'. Court discovered in session. 

Justice. The next case is Spludge versus Fudge. Counsel for 
plaintiff' will please open the case. 

Atfy for Plain. If it please your Honor, the facts of the case I 
will briefly recount as hereinafter enumerated, amplified and de- 
tailed {Reads. Jury look -wise and attentive^ Spludge versus 
Fudge, in re sugar kettle Be it known and understood that one 
Spludge (my worthy client, the plaintiff' in this case,) was seized 
and possessed of an evaporating caldron, otherwise known as a 
sugar kettle. Be it also known that one Fudge, the defendant in 
this case [Scowls at Fudge.) was seized and possessed of a sugar 
camp. Be it further known that said Fudge was not seized 
of the requisite number of said metalic caldrons, otherwise 
known as sugar kettles, to evaporate to a granular consistency, 
otherwise known as maple sugar, the unelaborated fluids of said 
sugar trees, otherwise known as sugar sap or simply sugar water. 
Be it moreover and further known that said Fudge did apply to 
said Spludge for the loan of a sugar kettle, and that said Spludge, 
having everv reason to suppose that said Fudge was acting in 
good faith, did loan said Fudge one sugar kettle, said kettle to be 
returned in good condition. (Mark me, in good condition.) Now, 
vour Honor and honorable jury, said kettle has never been re- 
turned, and, to the best of the knowledge and belief of my worthy 
client, said kettle is now in a cracked and useless condition, 
Mr. Spludge brings action to recover the value true and 
proper of the aforesaid kettle. Your Honor, to sustain the facts 
hereinbefore enumerated, we offer the testimony of our worthy 
townsman Mr. Bulge, and others. 

Justice. The counsel for defendant will state the defense. 

Atfy for Def. Your Honor, and the very honorable jury: 
Our case is brief and as clear as day. We submit to this honor- 
able court and jury the following points for your consideration: 

First, The detendent is seized and possessed of a sufficient 
number of sugar kettles of his own to run his sugar camp. 

* This dialogue is founded on the old story of the man who borrowed a sugar 
kettle, and was sued for its value on tailing to return it in good condition. Although 
the author has never seen the story in print, it is probably familiar to most persons. 



t66 country justice. 

The inevitable conclusion then is, that he did not borrow one. 

Second, The defendant has no recollection of having borrowed 
St kettle from plaintiff, and I ask this honorable court if my client 
is a man likley to forget. Look at hiin. I scorn the insinuation. 

Third, The defendant is a man of very careful habits. Hence, 
we are forced to conclude that he did not break, crack, mar, 
deface, batter, pound, or otherwise maltreat the defendant's kettle. 

Fourth, My client is a man of unimpeacliable integrity and 
well known punctuality in his business, (Just look at him, your 
honor and gentlemen of the jury), hence the inference that he 
returned the kettle long ago crushes us with its ponderous 
weight of probability. The weightof this point is apparent when 
we remember that the kettle was alleged to have been borrowed 
in sugar-making, and that we are now in the midst of husking 
frolics and quilting bees. 

Fifth, The damages claimed by the plaintiff, viz., one dollar 
and a half, are excessive. Just think of paying one dollar and a 
half for cracking a sugar kettle. Your Honor, it is abiurd! 
(Vehemently.) Honorable jury, it is rank injustice. With due 
respect to the Court, I dont believe the plaintiff ever owned a 
kettle worth more than .t;'x bitf. We are ready for the testimony. 

Justice. Mr. Bulge, will you take the stand.' (Bulge takes 
witness's c/iair, right of justice, in front.) 

AtVy for Plain. Mr. Bulge, please state to the jury what you 
know about this case. 

Bulge. I reckon Mr. Lawyer, that I don't know a great sight 
about it. I never seed the kittle in my life, as I knows on. 

Att'y for Plain, What do you know about the borrowing of the 
kettle.? 

Bullae. I'm comin' to that. You see, I was down in the big 
woods one day in sugar makin', lookin' arter somethin' that hed 
been killin' my chickens. I hed forty big hens I was feedin' up 
on chopped meat and eggshells, so they would lay eggs for Easter. 
Nothin' like chopped meat — 

Att'y /or Plain. Please omit preliminaries. 

Bulge. Which — what.'' 

Atfy for Plain. Confine yourself to the essentials. (Bulge 
looks puzzled, scratches his head.) Come to the point at once. 

Bulge. Dang it! that 's jest what I'm doing if you 'd let me. 
(Takes out immense colored handkerchief and ivifes his face, blows his 
nose, clears his throat.) Kinder phthisicky weather, Squire. 

Atfyfor Plain. Please proceed. 

Bulge. Well, as I was sayin', there 's nothin' like chopped 
meat to make hens lay. But a coon or possum or some other 
varmint come an" tuk one every night for six nights hand runnin'. 
It riled me; it did, by jingo! I shouldered my gun detarmined 
to spoil that chap's fun if I could. I tuk straight down the crick, 
an' when I come to the lower end of the pint — 

Att'y for Plain. (Testily.) Please tell what you know about 
this case. You will never get to the point at that rate. 



COUNTRY JUSTICE. 1^7 

Bulge. Wrong there, Mr. Lawyer, for I've jest got to the///,.^ 
I started straight up the pint through the woods, and found Bill 
Fudge's oldest boy haulin' wood for the sugar camp. He axed 
me if I could loan them a kittle, seein' as how they were one 
short, I told him — 

Fiidge. {'Jumps up excitedly^ That aint so! We had plenty 
of kittles, but one had a sand hole in it an' we plugged that up. 

Aityfor Plain. {Jumps up excitedly.) I wish to enquire, your 
honor, whether this Honorable Court and the witnesses are to be 
insulted, bullied, and intimidated by the defendant; instigated as 
he doubtless has been by other parties. [Looks at opposi>\^ attor- 
ney^ I will not say whom. 

Atfy for Def. The fling of my opponent is unworthy of 
answer, and derogatory to the dignity of this court and the bar in 
general. My client may be excused any apparent hastiness of 
manner; realizing, as he does, the unscrupulous eftbrts made to 
crush him and blacken his character. 

Fudge. I swear it 's all a tarnation lie about my bein' short one 
kittle. 

Justice. Silence, if you please! I reckon this court ain't 
obleeged to stand no sich interruptions nohow you can fix it. 
[To Bulge.) Go on with vour testimony. 

Bidge. Well, when Fudge's boy axed me about that ar kittle, 
I told him I 'lowed he could git one at Spludge's, an he said he 
would go up arter it. 

Atfyfor Plain. Then you understood that virtually the defen- 
dant's son borrowed Mr. Spludge's kettle at the time, by informing 
you he would accept the use of said kettle.^ 

Bulge. Dunno about that! dunno, mister ! All I know is, I 
told him I thought he could git it, an' he said he s'posed he uould 
git it, an' I saw Spludge in the road goin' home an' told him I 
'lowed they'd git the kittle. 

Atfy for Plain. In the eyes of the law that constitutes a con- 
tract. [Looke meaningly at jury.) T'/m/ point will impress itself 
upon all as conclusive. 

AtVy for Def. Did you see the Defendant or his son get the 
kettle? 

Bulge. No. 

Atfyfor Def. Do you know positively that either of them 
ever did get it.? 

Bulge. Well, not to a dead sartainty, but I believe they did. 
Couldn't swear to it. 

Att'yfor Def. The honorable jury will notice that the witness 
does not really know whether the defendant ever got the kettle in 
dispute at all. Call the next witness. 

Justice. John Smith will take the stand. 

Att'y for Plain. Mr. Smith, are you acquainted with the parties 
in this case.? 

Smith. Slightly! 

Atfy for Plain. How long have you known them? 



l68 COUNTRY JUSTICE. 

Smith. About twenty years, off and on. 

Ait'y for Plain. Tiventy years! How old are you? 

i>mitk. About twenty seven. 

Atfy for Plain. About twenty seven! Mr. Smith you are un- 
der oath. Please state your age, exactly. 

St/ntk. I was twenty seven last Friday, June aoth, at four 
o'clock in the morning. 

Atcy for Plain. Ah, indeed ! Remarkably precise, I see. State 
to the jury what you know about the case under consideration. 

Stniih. I don't know any thing about it. 

Atfy for Plain. Did plaintift', Mr. Spludge, ever loan a kettle 
to the defendant Fudge .^ 

Smith. Don't know. 

Atfy for Plain. Why were you summoned in this case.? 

Smith. Don't know. 

Sfludge. I had him summoned to prove that I owned a kettle. 

Atfy tor Plain. Does the plaintiff, to your knowledge, own a 
kettle? 

Smith. He does. 

Atfy for Def How do you know that plaintiff owns a kettle? 

Smith. Spludge's wife told Nate Ripley's wife, last spring, that 
they bought a new kettle, and Mrs. Ripley told my wife she guess- 
ed we could get a kettle there when we wanted one. 

Foreman of Jury. Square, if it aint agin the rules, I'd like to 
ax a question. 

Justice. I reckon nobody will object. 

Foreman. Mr. Smith, moughtn't this ere kettle of Spludge's be 
an apfle-sass kettle. My old woman 's borrowed Spludge's apple- 
sass kittle nign onto sixteen year, I reckon. 

Smith. Couldn't say. Never saw it. 

Atfy for Def. Your honor, the testimony of the witness is en- 
tirely irrelevant. I object to its introduction. 

Justice. I heerd nothin irreverent about Smith's langwige. I've 
heerd him spell a whole line at a time when he was plowin' in 
stumpy ground, but it's a leetle too much to say he cussed when 
he didn't. 

Atfy for Def. I meant, your Honor, it was useless. It should 
be ruled out. 

Justice. If it's useless I reckon we'll let it go for what its 
worth. 

Atfy for Plain. Mr. Jenks will take the stand. . {Jenks comes to 
chair.) Mr. Jenks, state briefly what you know concerning the 
facts in the present case. 

Jenks. Last spring, about the close of sugar making, I was 
down in the big woods hunting squirrels. I passed Fudge's su- 
gar shanty and stopped awhile. Fudge's boy was tending the ket- 
tles and I had a chat with him. He said they had a kettle bor- 
rowed from Spludge and that it was cracked. He asked me if I 
would tell Spludge, if I saw him, that the kettle was cracked, and 
say to him that they would make it all right. 



COUNTRY JUSTICE. 169 

AtWy for Plain. Did jou inform Mr. Spludge, as requested.'' 

yenks. Fact is, I did not see him for a right smart while, and 
then I clean forgot it. 

AWy for Def. Do you know positively that said kettle was 
never returned.-* 

yenks. I do not. 

AWy for Def. Then considering the unimpeachable character 
of my client, the presumption is overwhelming that it was, and 
the damages made good. Is that all your testimony.^ (To Atfy) 

Atfy for Plain. Our case is so clear we shall introduce nothing 
more. I shall not even submit an argument to the honorable jury. 
A mere statement of the facts plainly proved, will be all sufficient. 
In the first place, we have clearly proved by two men good and 
true, that all the intents, purposes and determinations of defend- 
ant Fudge were to borrow said sugar kettle of plaintiff Spludge. 
Secondly, we have proved beyond the perad venture of a doubt, 
that said Fudge did, through his son, obtain and use to its detri- 
ment, said caldron or kettle. Said detriment consists of a crack 
beginning, according to the best information, at a point near the 
lower portion of said vessel, and ascending thence obliquely and 
sinuously to the perimeter of the caldron, otherwise known as 
the rim, and terminatmg at a point where the suspensory appara- 
tus is attached, known as the bail. Thirdly, that the kettle refer- 
red to has ever been returned, or the damage made good , the de- 
fense do not even pretend to assert. (Eloquently.) Gentlemen of 
the jury, can the sun in the heavens at noon-day be more plain 
than the facts in this case.'' I have no doubts of the position of 
my client. I can have none. There can be but one verdict, and 
in that verdict I see with prophetic eye the vindication of the 
majesty of the law ; justice triumphant ; the evil doer punished ; the 
down trodden lifted on high, and righteousness exalted. That 
verdict will tear asunder with the hand of a giant the slimy folds 
of the mighty serpent fraud, which would crush the very vitals 
of society, and strike a death blow at the institutions of our glori- 
ous country. Gentlemen of the jury, we trust to your patriotism, 
your love of justice, and above all to the more than ordinary 
intelligence I see in every feature of the honest countenances be- 
fore me. (Takes his seat.) 

Atfy for Def. Gentlemen of the jury, few words are necessary 
in closing this argument. My client's case is based on the bed 
rock of eternal justice, and no v^ily sophistry nor high flown ora- 
tory can pluck it thence. (Looks hard at Atfy for Plain.) The 
prosecution has failed to prove that my client ever borrowed a 
kettle of Spludge. No one saw him borrow it. No one heard him 
say he borrowed it. He avers he did not. The fact that the ket- 
tle was broken rests on the unsupported evidence of a single wit- 
ness. Not the m.ost reliable, I am sorry to say, either. 

yenks. (yumps up excitedly and collars speaker.) Take that 
back Mister, or I'll punch your head! I won't be called a liar. 

yuslice. Order ! Order in the court. (Sereral seize yenks and 
seat him.) 



I70 COUNTRY JUSTICE. 

Jevks. (Struggling.^ Let me at him! I'll break the rascal's 
head for him ! 

Justice, Order! Order! 

Atfy for Def. Concerning the return of the kettle it is unnec- 
essary to speak, as the prosecution have entirely omitted that 
point. Now, gentlemen of the jury, I will draw a picture. My 
client is a poor man. He toils for his daily bread. Unlike the 
plaintiff, he is not possessed of a broad estate. His little farm is 
scarce sufficient to furnish sustenance for his estimable family, 
consisting of a wife and sixteen children, ranging from the cher- 
ub iti the mother's arms up to the sturdy, honest-hearted youth 
who tends the sugar camp. Does anyone suppose for an instant 
that my client, a man of unimpeachable charac er, would willingly 
commit waste on the property of another.' Why, gentlemen, the 
pangs of conscience would carry him to a premature grave. Ev- 
ery time he sweetened his tea during his frugal repast, conscience 
would whisper in his ear, " You hav'nt paid for that kettle yet." 
Every time his little prattling child toddled to the cupboard, and 
in artless tones lisped its wishes for maple sugar, the thoughts of 
that damaged kettle would rise like a spectre of doom, and harrass 
him. Every time he visited the country store and saw the tempt- 
ing bars of sugar arranged on the shelves, his conscience would 
prick him with a thousand darts. Such a life would be unendura- 
ble, and would leave its traces. Gentlemen of the jury, does my 
client look like a man whose conscience troubles him.' (Pauses.) 
Notabitof it. '■'■Fiat justifia mat coelumV Which means, freely 
translated. " Give the poor man the benefit of a doubt." (Seats 
iimself.) 

justice. The jurj will now retire and bring in a verdic'. I have 
. no particular instructions, only stick to the law and facts. And 
don't forget that you are tryin' to heal differences between neigh- 
bors. (Jury retire and return in a few seconds.) 

Foreman. Mr. Square, an' feller citizens: we've decided unan- 
imous onto the follerin' verdic'. Fudge must take that ere kettle 
and get it fixed. Budge and Jenks orter pay the cost of the fixin', 
Spludge orter pay the cost of the lawin'. We thought we'd 
make it as easy as we could by sorter everagin'' it. 

Att'y for Plain. Your honor, I object to that verdict. It is 
not according to law. 

AtVy for Def. It ought to relieve my client of all responsibil- 
ity. Besides, Messrs. Bulge and Jenks are not parties to the suit. 

Bulge. (Excitedly.) Jest what I was goin' to say, Jedge. I 
can't see as Fm mixed up into this ere suit, nohow you can fix it. 

Jenks. Hanged if I'll pay any costs for other people's business. 

Justice. I 'low that verdic' had better stand. If it aint/wii' it's 
justice. Sposin' Bulge hadn't said anything about that kittle! It 
wouldn't been borried, and if Jenks had spoken to Xpludge about 
the damages when Fudge's boy told him to, there most likely 
would have been no lawsuit. So I reckon they'd better come in 
for their share of the cost. 

CURTAIN. 



A FAMILY STRIKE. 

A spicy tarce, illustratinjf "strikes," 3 male and 2 female characters. Time 
10 minutes. 

LOUVA, THE PAUPER. 

A drama in five acts; 9 male and 4 female characters. Time, i hour 45 min. 
Contains a g-ood Yankee character and a humorous darky character. This is 
an intensely interesting- and pathetic play. It admits of striking- scenic effects- 
and is a sf/niio- play for amateurs. 

TWO GHOSTS IN WHITE. 

A humorous farce based on boarding-school lite; 7 female characters. Time 
25 m. Abounds in ludicrous episodes. 

HANS VON SMASH. 

A roaring farce in a prologue and one act; 3 male and 4 female cliaracters. 
Time, 30 min. Contains an excellent humorous Dutch character. 

THE ASSESSOR. 

A humorous sketch, illustrating the difficulties of an assessor in listing the 
property of a tax- fighter; 3 male and 2 female characters. Time, 15 m. 

BORROWING TROUBLE. 

A ludicrous farce; 3 male and 4 female characters. Time, 30 m. Illustrates 
the very amusing trials ot a borrowing family. 

THE PULL-BACK. 

A laughable farce; 6 female characters. Time, 20 min. Contains an ex- 
cellent old-fashioned, "old lady " character. Pictures her adventures among 
the devotees of fashion. 

COUNTRY JUSTICE. 

A very amusing country law suit; S male characters. (May admit 14.) Time 
20 minutes. 

ON THE BRINK, 
Or, The Reclaimed Husband. 

A temperance drama in two acts; 12 male and 3 female characters. Time, 
I hour, 45 m. Seven of the characters have unimportant.parts, and some of the 
parts are so arranged that the same person may play two parts. Contains 
three humorous Yankee characters. A fine play for amateurs. 

A PARLOR ENTERTAINMENT. 

A Sketch ; 2 male and J female characters. Time, 25 ra. A good piece for 
younger boys and girls. 

New plavs will appear from time to time. Costumes furnished. Wigs, 
beards, masks, face paints, tableau lights, etc., at lowest rates. Parties de- 
siring full information, please address us. 

T. S. DEN!SON, 

CHICAGO, ILL. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

IllilllliiiJiililtill 

016 112 387 




-^ -prices within the i-each of miy Teacher and all 
School Boards. 



THE HOLBROOK CONDENSING AIH-PUMP. 

The above Air- Pump, retailing at ^9.00, is claimed to be superior 
to those ordinarily retailing at ^20.00. 

1. It exhausts and condenses without any change of its parts, where 
an ordinary pump, capable only of exhausting the air, costs $20 alone; 
then ^8 extra must be paid for a condensing chamber ; not only this, 
but the parts must be changed, and the pump is likely to get out of 
repair. 

2. Its exhausting power is at a maximum, the valves being light and 
its parts being so arranged that no air remains under the piston to re- 
sist the raising of the exhausting valve by rarified air in the receiver 
The pump is thus mechanically /f;y></. 

3. No instructions accompany ordinary apparatus. The above pump 
is accompanied by a hand book, giving full iftstructions as to tke prep- 
aration and manipulation of the apparatus in every experiment. 

4. The entire outfit costs but ^20, capable of performing 100 exper- 
iments ; m the hands of an ingenious teacher, a greater number. An 
air pump alone usually costs ^25. 

XjIST. 



Holbrook Condensing Air Pump 

—extra brass — warranted $9 00 

Two stop-cocks 2 50 

One Connector 60 

Movable Receiver 75 

Two Singfle Nut Caps 80 

Two Double Nut Caps 90 



Three feet ^s Rubber Tubingf... $1 00 
Band Sheeting- and Thin Rub- 
ber Sheeting- 70 

Book of Experiments and Kx- 

planations ot Apparatus Jo 

Brass Plate 200 

!^ Gallon Bell Jar Receiver i 25 



Address 



All for $20. Carefully packed in a neat box. 

T. S. DENISON, 

Chicago, m. 



